Electric fruit-marking machine



L. NEUENSCHWANDER. -LECTRIC mm? MARKING MACHINE.

i+ R NF AIPUCATION FILED MAR- 12. 192i. 1,421,292.

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L. NEUENSCHWANDER. ELECTRIC FRUIT MARKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1921.

1,421,292. Patented June 27, 1922..

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JMW Ii 1.11 ATTORNEYS Patented June 27, 1922.

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ELECTRIC FRUIT MARKING MACHNE.

APPLICAUON FILED MAR 12, 1921.

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Patented June 27, 1922.

i MEI -SHEET 4 INVENTOR W Lewas bsevmscqwqnfoiQ BY 'A'TTORNEYS WITNESS L. NEUENSCHWANDER. ELECTRIC FRUIT MARKING 'MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED Mn. 12, 1921.

Patented June 27, 1922.

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. INVENTOR Lemsfleunlscqwqfloeg WITNESS 1AM ATTORNEYS I L. NEUENSCHWANDER.- ELECTRIC FRUIT MARKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION H'LED MAR. |2 1921.

Patented June 27, 1922.

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WQ JW GLL ha 'ATTORNEYS UNITED STA'lZES LEWIS NEUENSCHWANDER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC FRUIT MARKING MACHINE (30., OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORAT OF CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC FRUIT-MARKING lVIACHIfiE.

Application filed March 12, 1921.

To all NF/(0)11 it may concern- Be it known that I. LEWIS NEUnN sonwanonn, a citizen of the l nited States, and a resident of the city of Los Angcles, county of Los Angeles. and State of California, have invented a new and useful Electric Fruit-Marking Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for marking names, designs or other delineations on fruit.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for marking fruit.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an apparatus for marking fruit in which there are improved means for bringing the fruit into contact with the marking dies.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine of the class described in which improved means are provided for inking and for heating the marking dies.

Another-object of my invention is to provide a machine of the class described which will operate with equal facility on fruit of the same size or a fruit of varying sizes.

The invention possesses other features of advantage. some of which, with the foregoing, will he set forth in the following (16' scription of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the specification. It is to he understood that I do not limit myself to the showingmade by the said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of the prt'erred form within the scope of my invention as set forth, in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is a front elevation of the machine, the escalator being omitted. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view. the plane of section being indicated by the line -33 of Figs. 1 and 4:. Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively, right and left side elevations of the machine. In each of these views portions are broken away to disclose the construction. Fig. (3 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the machine. the plane of sec tion hein indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. is a sectional view through the die shaft. Fig. 8 is a detail in side elevation of the inking pad and arm. The plane in Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Julie 27, 1922. Serial No. 451,780.

which the view is taken is line. S8 of Fig. l.

A quadruple machine drawings, that is, one in which there are four sets of dies and certain other parts, so that four pieces of fruit are marked simultaneously. It is of course obvious that the machine may he built with any desired number of dies.

Journaled in bearings arranged in the vertical frame members 2 and 3 is a. hollow die shaft 4. constructed shown in Fig. 7. with hollow journals 5 fixed on the ends and insulated thcrn'ially there from by fiber disks (3. Annular flanges 7 are arranged on the shaft. and dies 8 are attached to the periphcry of the flanges. Electrical heating means 9 are enclosed within the shaft and energized through proper brushes engaging the collector rings 11 mounted 011 the insulator bushing 1:2.

Means are provided for rotating the die shaft intermittently to pre ent the dies on each flange successively at a predetermined operating station where they remain fixed for a moment while the fruit passes over them. The outer end 5 of the die shaft 4 at one side of the machine is connected by Geneva gears 13 and H with cam shaft 16, driven by spur gear 17 from gear 18 mounted on stud l9. and in turn driven by gea 21, mounted with worm wheel 22 on the shaft 23 and driven by suitable worm on the same shaft with the pulley 24 connected by belt to any suitable source of power. \Vith each full revolution of the shaft. 16. the die shaft is turned through one step of its intermittent motion and then held stationary for a moment.

livoted on the frame of the machine is a table over which the fruit passes as it is being marked. The table is formed with ridges 25 dividing it into troughs extending across the top of each die wheel. The bottom of the trough is cut away over the dies, so that when the die wheel rotates, each die successively moves upwardly into the trough and comes to rest with its face projecting a small amount above the bottom. so that each piece of fruit rolling through the trough contacts with the die and is marked. Preferably the trough is given a small incline toward the dies in that portion carrying the is shown in the incoming fruit, as shown in Fig. (l, but that portion of the table carrying the marked fruit is sloped sharply away from the dies so that the fruit discharges rapidly. An eccentrically mounted shaft 26 provides means for varying the height of the table relative to the die wheels." Means are provided for timing the arrival of each piece of fruit to the die to coincide with its rest period. Fixed on the shaft 27 below each trough is a star-wheel provided preferably with four pairs of arms 28 of triangular section and well rounded to avoid bruising the fruit. The shaft 27 is rotated by the chain-29 ,driven from a sprocket on the escalator shaft 31 which in turn is driven by chain'32 from sprocket 33 fixed on the gear 18. The position of the shaft 27 and the length of the arms 28 is such, that when the shaft is rotated, the arms move upwardly through slots 34 cut in the bottom of the trough, catching the piece of fruit 36 lying thereon, in the pocket formed between two successive pairs of arms and moving it forward so that it is caught by the feed belt 37. The feed belt rolls it along the trough and over the die face, then releases it so that it rolls down the sloping table and out of the machine. The central strip 38 between the slots 34 provide support for the fruit clear to the die, and prevent too forcible a contact with the forward edge thereof which would cause an uneven marking.

Each feed belt 37 is formed preferably of soft rubber with a roughened or non-skid surface, and is carried upon pulleys 41 and 42. Pulleys 41 are fixed upon the shaft 43 journalled in bearings arranged in the frame of the machine. The shaft 43 is driven by a chain 44 from the shaft lfi and the belts are therefore moving constantly in the direction of the arrow while the machine is in operation. Pivotally arranged on the shaft 43 on each side of each ulley is a yoke 46, adjustably connected by bolts 47 with a similar yo e 48 in which the pulley 42 is journalled. A stud 49 on theadjacent faces of the pivoted frames engages an arm 51 fixed on the shaft 52 pivoted in the machine frame. The shaft is provided with short arms 53 at its ends through each of which is threaded an adjusting screw 54, impinging on the lug 56. Thus means are provided for adjusting the height of the arm 51 to limit the downward movement of the belts 37. Anarm 51 is placed between each pair of belts.

The pivotal mounting of the belt frame permits it to accommodate itself to fruit of varying sizes and as pieces of fruit are moved inwardly by the feed arms 28 each piece, irrespective of size, is caught by the yielding belt and rolled across the die with substantially the same ressure against the die and substantially t e same time of exposure to the die for every piece. Such exposure is of course determined by the speed at which the fruit rolls across the die. and

this in turn depends on the velocity of the belt. The rotation of the feed arms is con tinuous while the machine is in operation and the timing is such that fruit is fed to the resiliently yielding belt, caught by it and rolled over the die while the latter is station ary. In the intervals between the feeding of successive pieces of fruit to the feed belt, the die wheel turns to bring a fresh die into operating position.

Means comprising an escalator are provided for feedin a succession of 'fruit to each trough on the marking table. Pivotally mounted on the ends of the shaft 31 is a frame 58, in which the shaft 59 is arranged parallel to shaft 31. Chains 61 are disposed at each side of the frame over sprockets 62 and 63 arran ed respectively on the shafts 31 and 59. series of rollers 64 are rota tably mounted in the links of the chains, and as the shaft 31 turns the rollers on the upper reaches of the chains are carried toward the marking table rolling slowly on ledges 66 provided on the frame sides. In order to insure the delivery of fruit in single file to each trough, a rail 67 with sloping sides is fixed to the receiving board 68 of the frame. These rails are alined with the ridges 25 on the table and extend across the rollers to the table. Fruit is dumped at the foot of the escalator by any suitable means and is separated into single files and conveyed into the marking machine by the rails and rollers. Braces 69 provide means for adjustably supporting the outer end of the escalator frame.

Means are provided for inking the dies,

although with some fruits, I may use only the hot dies alone. I may also use only the cold inked die in some cases. Mounted on the lower portion of the frame of the machine are two spools 71 and 72 adapted to contain an inking ribbon 73 which is led over guide rollers 74 and under the die shaft below the dies. Fixed on the shaft 76 are a series of pad arms 77, one extending out below each die flange. An arm 78 fixed on each end of the shaft 76, is connebted to the machine frame by the tension spring 73 at one end and at the other end is provided with a roller 80, engaged by a cam 81 fixed on the shaft 16. Thus, with rotation of shaft 16, the shaft 76 is rocked, thesprings :79 raising the ends of the pad arms to press the ribbon against the diet then directly above the ribbon, and after a momentary contact the cam foroes the pad am down. The timing of the cam is such that the contact of the ribbon with the dies is effected during the periods of rest of the die shaft and it will be seen that each die is freshly inked for each contact with the fruit.

In order to insure even inking of the die, the ends of each pad arm is rovided with a composition cork pad 82 heh in the channel 83 which is resiliently mounted on the plate 8% by means of studs surrounded by springs 85. The plate is removably connected to the pad arm by a thumb screw 86. Thus the resiliently mounted pad evenly presses the ribbon upon the whole surface of the die irrespective of small defects in alinemcnt of the parts.

The spools 71 and 72 are each mounted on a shaft near the other end of which is rotatably mounted a worm wheel 87 engaging a worm 88 on the shaft 89, which is driven by gears 91 from the shaft 23. One of the worms 88 is right hand and one left hand. A pin clutch 92 disposed on each spool shaft provides means for coupling the spool shaft to the associated worm wheel. The clutches are controlled by yokes 93 on the end of lever 94 pivoted at its center on the frame of the machine and provided with a. handle 96 wherewith one or the other of the clutches may be engaged, so that the ribbon ma 1 be fed in either direction. The ribbon is ed very slowly across the pad arms and is long enough for a days run, so that only an occasional shifting of the clutches is re quired.

I claim:

1. A marking machine comprising a table formed with a trough for receiving the articles to be marked and an aperture in the bottom of said trough, a die adjacent the far end of said trough, a supporting strip bridging said aperture to said die and means projectingthrough said aperture on both sides of said strip for feeding the articles to be marked to said die.

2. A marking machine comprising a table formed with a trough for receiving the art icles to be marked and an aperture in the bottom of the trough, a die adjacent the far end of said trough, a feed star-wheel having a plurality of twin arms arranged to rotate through said aperture, and a supporting strip bridging said aperture to said die between the twin arms of said star-wheel.

3. In a marking machine, a table formed with a plurality of troughs for receiving the articles to be marked, the bottoms of said troughs being apertured, a star-wheel having arms adapted to rotate through said aperturcs, a plurality of dies successively movable todfixed operative position in said table adjacent the ends of said apertures, and means for rotating the star-wheels in time with the movement of said dies whereby the articles to be marked are delivered toward said dies when the latter are in operative 1 position.

substantia ly flat discharge plate, means for feeding said articles througl. said troughs and means for marking said articles as they emerge from the troughs upon the discharge plate.

In a marking machine, a table, means for marking articles on said table, and means acting in time with said marking means for conveying articles to be marked to said table comprising a plurality of rotating rollers, means for moving said rollers toward said table, and fixed guide rails overlying said rollers intermediate their ends.

6. In a markin machine, a table, means for marking artic es on said table, a frame arranged on said table, endless chains mount ed.in said frame for movement in time with the marking means, a plurality of rollers mounted on said chains whereby the rollers on the upper reaches of said chains are moved in succession toward said table, and fixed guide rails overlying said rollers i11- termediate their ends.

7. In a marking machine, a table formed with a plurality of troughs for receiving the articles to be marked, a die arranged in each trough, a plurality of rollers, means for rotating said rollers and moving a succession thereof toward said table, and fixed rails overlying said rollers and alined with the ridges between said troughs.

8. In a marking machine, a table formed with a plurality of troughs for receiving the articles to be marked, a plurality of dies successively movable to fixed operative posi tion in each of said troughs, means for feeding articles in the troughs over said dies, a plurality of rollers, means for rotating said rollers and moving a succession thereof toward said table in timewith the movements of said feeding means and said dies, and fixed rails overlying said rollers and alined with the ridges between said troughs.

9. A marking machine comprising a table formed with a plurality of troughs for receiving the articles to be marked and an aperture in the bottom of each trough, a die arranged in said aperture, and means for varying the height of said table to vary the position of said die in said trough.

10. In a marking machine, a table, means for marking articles on said table, a frame arranged on said table, endless chains mounted in said frame for movement in time with the marking means, a plurality of rollers mounted on said chains to roll on said frame, and fixed rails'overlying said rollers intermediate their ends to divide articles thereon into a lurality of single files.

11. A marking mac ine comprising a table formed with a plurality of troughs for receiving the articles to be marked, means for marking the articles arranged in each trough, means for feeding articles in said troughs over said marking means, and means Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that the name of the asignee in Letters Patent N o. 1,42l,292,

granted June 27, 1922, upon the application of Lewis Neuenschwander, of Los AngelesQCalifornia, for an improvement in Electric F wit-Marking Machines, was erroneously described and specified as Electric Fruit Marking Machine Co,

whereas said assignee should have been described and specified as Electric Fruit Marking 00., as shown by the records of asi'nments in this ofiice; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of A'ugust,'A. D., 1922.

KARL FENNING,

Acting Oomrmlseimwr of Patents- 

